The Best Route To Bug Out Or Get Back Home

If and when it’s time to bug out, or if you need to get back home during a major disaster or regional crisis, have you ever thought about the best way (route) to get there?

Have you ever walked in the woods and noticed the trails which are formed by the paths often traveled by various wild animals? We too as humans travel along our own same routes in our day to day lives. They are typically the quickest and most efficient routes to get from here to there, and are the same routes traveled by most others. We are all creatures of habit.

Here’s why this can be very dangerous, and what to do about it…

(UPDATED)

During a disaster, these routes will become increasingly clogged with others who are trying to get home, or escape the area – bugging out. It is reasonable to expect that a disaster scenario that’s bad enough – these routes of travel will become very slow, or even impassible.

For those who commute to densely populated regions (and back home again) as part of your daily work routine, can surely imagine the risk, and how the major routes, highways, freeways and arteries can quickly become parking lots…

Even some of the secondary roads will become heavily traveled — the interconnected secondary roads between towns — some of which lead to highway intersections (choke points). These semi-mainstream secondary roads are also typically traveled by the same people who end up on the highways and freeways, because these roads lead to the on-and-off ramps near their homes and neighborhoods.

Here’s the thing…

Most people travel these same roads, most all of the time, during their routines of life. It is habit. In fact, even though most people know alternate routes within their immediate local area where they live, they will still travel their habitual routes to get from point A to point B. Because they always have, and it’s probably the shortest way.

Knowing this can provide you an advantage. Discover and plan for alternative routes of travel that are NOT part of the mainstream routes of travel. Most of you probably already know the back roads within your immediate neighborhood or town, but that’s probably the extent of it. Do you know the back roads in other areas? Probably not, because you’ve never traveled them.

The most important piece of advice regarding getting back home, or bugging out, during a major disaster in which you suspect highways could become jammed – is the following:

Know the back roads that DO NOT intersect with a freeway on-ramp or off-ramp of a major traveled artery, and know the back roads that are NOT the semi-mainstream secondary roads.

Even if you do not intend to get onto a highway, any road that involves an intersection with the highway will risk becoming clogged. Similarly any secondary road that is known to be the most often traveled road, will risk becoming a choke point.

So, how do you discover the back roads that you seek?

Consider online tools, such as Google Earth or Google Maps (and others). Check it out BEFORE you need to evacuate or bug-out. Pre-plan contingency back-road routes to and from your potential destinations. These online tools feature useful capabilities such as zooming in to street level or to discover which secondary roads are crossing under or over a freeway as opposed to an on-ramp or off-ramp (meaning that there will be no choke point with the freeway).

A GPS mapping tool in your vehicle will visualize and re-route you, however you shouldn’t depend on them absolutely. There are some details on a GPS that may not be provided with regards to your desire to avoid choke points. Plus, the GPS satellite systems need to be ‘live’ for it to work with your unit.

There are are lots of great maps and road atlas’s that you can use to find your back road routes. Get yourself some printed maps. From a survival preparedness point of view, a hard copy map or road atlas of every state which you may travel should be a priority prep (kept in your vehicle) when it comes to navigation.

Remember this: most people will be unable to successfully route themselves around the major traveled roads and routes outside of their familiar domain, and these people will become part of the problem as the primary roads and freeways become slow and clogged. Depending on the disaster, this could even become life threatening.

The lesson here is to explore alternative routes to and from your work, to and from your bug-out location, and anywhere else that you expect you may need to go. Find roads that are less traveled. These roads will take you longer to get where you’re going, but that’s okay because you’re NOT looking at this for saving time. You’re looking at this from the viewpoint of SAFETY and SUCCESS.

Once you discover these alternate roads and routes, then TRAVEL them. Become familiar with them. It’s also a refreshing change to get off the main roads and travel the back roads once in a while.

16 Comments

I always keep a map of my state in my car for just such an event. If I find myself having to walk I will stay on the main roads for the first day at least.

After a major catastrophe there are stages to which people react. For the first stage most people tend to help others, then its every man for himself, then things can get dicey after that.

I would avoid the woods at least initially as hiking in the woods is the slowest mode of walking. The quicker I can get to my destination the better. The first day should be pretty safe but always keep an eye on your surroundings as there are still people who will take full advantage of the situation.

I have lived in the same area for the last 42 years now,and fortunately know many different driving,or walking routes if necessary.Even from a distance away,I have several alternate routes in mind,should I ever need them.

Another thing to think about: how would you be able to reach loved ones if you’re unable to use an automobile? Remember during Texas’ hurricane Rita, where many drivers were left helpless and stranded on a highway, out of gas and stuck between other autos- without food and water- Imagine your cell phone running out of battery power in the process! Miles and miles away from home, loved ones, any source of help.

What about an EMP disaster? Would an older carbureted cars work after an EMP attack should one occur- say a 1980s or earlier year car?

An emp knocks out any power from unshielded wiring, best bet is to have many ways to bug out if bug out is something you need to do. I keep in shape and ride my bike often, just something I do…… not gospel

a car with a carb would work after the emp strike however if I had such a car id remove the starter, possible fuel pump if it has one and the coil and place them in a faraday cage. this will protect them from getting knocked out. also the alternator. just a thought

Great article. I’d suggest looking into the DeLorme “state-specific” atlases. They provide a detailed look at all the back roads not usually found on printed maps. They’re big, probably too big for a bug out bag, but are very useful in the “planning process”. Although I live in “Rahmistan” (the city formerly known as Daleygrad [Chicago]), I spend quite a bit of time in Indiana and Wisconsin and have found the DeLorme atlases to be indispensable.

A caution on using secondary routes: side roads are often regulated for light traffic, such that even a modest increase in volume can produce a serious bottleneck.

For example, there is a secondary road to my home, an alternate to the freeway, that I have attempted to use when the main freeway route is blocked. Unfortunately, there are some other drivers besides myself who are aware of this bypass, and a single stop sign at its end, normally not an impediment, quickly produces a 2 mile long backup as each car must stop in turn before proceeding. (The only redeeming feature is a congenial bar just 2 miles from the stop sign, where one can sip a nourishing liquid, and wait).

I was living in a small suburban town several years ago. A tanker truck crashed and exploded on the highway. This was not long after 9/11, so the police were afraid it was terrorism. They closed a big section of that highway.

There really wasn’t any such thing as sneaking down a secret road. Any available opening that looked like a road became inundated with traffic. The ‘secondary’ options were immediately gone, and within about 20 minutes the third and fourth routes were overwhelmed too.

My advice is to form a path that’s in a straight line as much as possible, and be prepared to bike or walk if you really need to hustle. People are pretty resourceful about finding small roads, but most of them will sit in a car for hours before they’ll walk.

Here too. It isn’t unusual in this area for the interstate to shut down, and the secondary roads clog to the point they have rescue squads, volunteer fire depts, etc. directing traffic. Also, because of the terrain here, if you get stuck on a third or fourth level road, there is no where to go, turn around, or get off.

Keep a comfortable pair of shoes and change of clothes in your car, ones you can “blend in” with. It seems obvious, but up until recently, I hadn’t thought of it, and I’d rather not walk home in my strappy cute sandals!

I have all routes to and from work covered. I also have the “rail” way to follow as well and several “hiking/biking” paths covered. I also have a mountain bike and a BOB in my truck.

My wife however, is my concern. She is polar opposite of me when it comes to confrontation, sticking and remembering a plan and imo, cares too much about too many to kick those in the way to the curb.

So, I get home and then what? Go try and find her? Stay put and pray? Or really start to drill here (not in a bad way) to start to try to have a second nature of survival? Sure will be a tough day with hell on earth When the shtf fo sho.

Survival blog topics for a life of preparedness and risk awareness; emergency and disaster or threats thereof.

MSB

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